The Harsh Reality Behind the Glitz
When most people think of boxing, they picture the bright lights of Las Vegas, the roar of a packed O2, or the money-spinning pay-per-view blockbusters featuring names like Canelo, Usyk or Anthony Joshua. But beneath the surface — far away from the glitz and glamour — lies a harsher reality: small-hall fighters scraping by on short notice, taking dangerous fights for peanuts. And the question is this — who’s looking out for them?
Could a boxing fighters union be the answer?
Big Stars Don’t Need a Union — But What About Everyone Else?
Let’s be honest. A union wouldn’t make much difference to the A-listers. Fighters like Tyson Fury, Gervonta Davis and even Katie Taylor have entire teams — managers, lawyers, nutritionists, PR reps — all working to protect their brand and their income. For the top 1%, the system works just fine.
But what about the 99%?
What about the journeymen and women? The ones who show up, week in and week out, to give rising prospects rounds — often with no proper training camp, medical follow-up or guaranteed purse. Fighters like Kristian Laight, who retired with a 12-279-9 record, have been open about the brutal realities of life on the boxing treadmill. They’re professionals too — but without the perks.
And they’re the ones a union could actually help.
What Would a Fighters’ Union Actually Do?
A proper boxing fighters union could establish basic protections — the kind of things most other sports take for granted:
- Minimum purse guarantees
- Standardised contracts
- Health insurance and post-fight medical care
- Pensions or career transition support
- Guidelines on matchmaking and short-notice fights
These wouldn’t need to get in the way of the sport’s business model — they’d just stop it chewing up and spitting out the very people who keep it running.
Some federations already have partial systems in place — Boxing Union of Ireland has policies around fighter welfare, while British Boxing Board of Control sets minimum purses for certain bouts. But these aren’t always enforced, and without collective bargaining power, fighters are often left to fend for themselves.
Promoters vs. Protectors
The problem is structural. Promoters, by definition, are there to sell fights — not protect fighters. If a replacement is needed last minute, someone will step up. If a fighter is desperate for a payday, they’ll take it. And unless you’re already a draw, the system doesn’t care how much damage you’re absorbing on the way.
We’ve seen plenty of examples: fighters with brain bleeds continuing on. Medical suspensions ignored. We’ve even had stories of boxers being pulled off the street to fill cards. That’s not just dangerous — it’s disgraceful.
Would It Actually Work?
Of course, the idea of a boxing fighters union is nothing new — and nothing simple. Boxing isn’t a league. It’s a fragmented industry with rival promotions, competing commissions, and no single governing body. Fighters work on one-off deals and, in many cases, rely on staying in promoters’ good books just to stay active.
So could a union really exist?
Maybe not globally. But regionally? Nationally? For small-hall and domestic fighters? Absolutely. If players’ unions exist in rugby and football, why can’t boxers have one too — especially when their careers are literally on the line every time they step through the ropes?
It’s Time to Talk About the Balance
We don’t need to blow up the sport. But we do need to rebalance it.
Boxers are the product. They risk their health, their future, even their lives, for our entertainment. And while the stars get the headlines, it’s the hundreds of undercard battlers, journeymen, and rookies who keep the whole thing ticking.
They deserve better. Not just applause — but protection.
What Do You Think?
Would a boxing fighters union help level the playing field? Or would it be too messy to work in such a fragmented sport? Drop your thoughts in the comments, share this post, and check out more at CMBoxing.co.uk — your home for honest takes and deep dives into the fight game.